Saturday, March 12th
Took a dinghy ride to Emerald Rock just south of the park headquarters. John and Lynton snorkeled whilst Rejeanne and I walked a trail to look at some ruins.
The path was very tortuous and rocky, so we turned back as soon as we came across the ruins.
Sunday, March 13th
The time change took us all by surprise. I thought it always occurred around the end of the month.
We decided to walk another trail on the island where we saw an interesting interplay in a shallow tongue of water. A small light grey ray, surrounded by an entourage of small fish, was intent on trying to dig itself into a hole. However, this was obviously the territory of a small, feisty crab about 2 inches in diameter and kept taking a run at the ray. The ray finally lumbered off, but its entourage then went after the crab until it took off. High drama!
Monday, March 14th
John was now suffering from a pulled muscle round his ribs – a result of the mooring ball debacle. So today we left him to recover and went over to a beach with Marilyn and Victor from “Whisper”. The waves were choppy and the dinghies tried to dislodge themselves a couple of times.
Then back to “Bilbo” to have a weather pow-wow. It looks as though Thursday will be the best day to leave.
Tuesday, March 15th
Ate something I shouldn’t have done and now I must think about starting the antibiotic treatment (groan!).
Our friends, Mike and Judy, on “Sea Sharp” just arrived yesterday, so Lynton went snorkeling with them.
There was a special happy hour on the beach at 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16th
Not a very nice day – dark grey clouds, windy and threatening rain. The high spot was an evening aboard Sea Sharp .
By the way, we did get a whole lot sillier later on – dancing to the oldies.
Thursday, March 17th
Left Warderick Wells around 7:00 a.m. The day turned out to be sunny and the wind pretty good. We arrived at Rock Sound in Eleuthera mid-afternoon and anchored in a large bay.
Friday, March 18th
Went to the local supermarket to stock up again on groceries. We were getting pretty low as there is nothing at Warderick Wells – not even a water supply.
Went to the local tikki hut with a view of boats in the harbour
for a happy hour drink (non-alcoholic for me of course due to the anti-biotics) as they had been very helpful in giving info about the town etc. (Have to pump funds into the local economies sometimes!!).
Saturday, March 19th
Went to the local farmers’ market and bought a few vegetables. A restful day for me for me after that while Lynton got connected to the internet.
The wind is supposed to pick up tomorrow (around 26 knots) and then decrease after one day. It has been very quiet here up to now, with just the roosters waking us up at around 4:00 a.m.!!
Blog according to Lynton:
20-Mar-11 – Sun
That wind built just like ‘Windfinder’ said it would – don’t know how they do it but that Windfinder is the best way of predicting weather (apologies to any Chris Parker fans).
We all took a walk ashore and visited Ocean Hole Park in the town. Ocean holes are inland lakes that are fed directly with seawater through tunnels.
Monday, 21st March
It’s a cloudy day with strong winds so it’s a day for boat chores like getting more water and diesel.
Tuesday 22nd March
The wind has dropped (as predicted) so time for a bit of shopping with John and Rejeanne – Carol definitely isn’t feeling so good.
In the afternoon I accompanied John and Rejeanne and we visited the local caves. They’re not as extensive as the ones on Long Island but certainly have their own character.
The more amazing thing there is the tree roots that come down through holes in the rock above and drop tens of feet to the floor of the cave and carry on digging into earth.
Wednesday 23rd March
Time to move on further up the coast of Eleuthera.
We had very little wind so we motored all the way to Hatchett Bay and Alice Town.
I took a walk around the town with John and Rejeanne and we stopped for Internet and a beer with a view of the very well protected harbour.
Thursday 24th March
Up before light we negotiated the (very) narrow exit
out of Hatchett Bay in the early morning light to try and reach Current Cut at slack tide. We made very good time motor-sailing all the way but still had to battle over 3 knots of current to get through. 3 knots doesn’t sound much unless you only go about five and a half – you lose your ability to steer properly - scary stuff!
Once through the cut we roared on our downwind motor-sail. Our GPS log says we hit 8.2 knots along the way.
We arrived in Spanish Wells off the northern tip of Eleuthera at mid-day and as there were no available moorings (there’s only 8) we checked into the Yacht Haven marina. Showers, laundry and free Wi-Fi – woo hoo!
Carol went off right away to the clinic to see a doctor where she was given more antibiotics. The visit plus the drugs - $34 – that’s cheap, not even worth claiming.
The ladies got going on the mountain of laundry.
Friday 25th March
One mooring has become available and John was ready to go get it. We rented a golf cart to take the ladies shopping before they left.
Bilbo left and we settled in for another night in the marina – not so bad at all.
Saturday 26th March
Another mooring has become available so we settle up at the marina and head the ½ mile down the cut to the mooring field.
We then got to see the waterfront there which is much more like something you would see in the US than the Bahamas with many fishing boats.
In the afternoon I went for a dinghy ride up the cut to the ocean at the other end of the two islands that seem to be referred to generally as Spanish Wells. I bought what I thought was some fresh grouper (over 2lbs). However, it certainly made me feel very bad during the night.
Sunday 27th March
Buddy’ coat was getting thick again and he was panting all the time so I got out the old clippers and gave him another amateur cut. After a bath too he really looked comical.
Monday 28th March
I was supposed to have gone on the fast ferry to Harbour Island with John and Rejeanne but at the last minute someone told me that if I left the dinghy where I thought I had safely tied it up it would be squashed by the ferry. It was good I heeded the warning because they were sooo right.
The dinghy would have been crushed by that big underwater thingy and the dock.
By the time I put it in a safe place the gangplank was up and they wouldn’t let me on – sigh! I got my fair back and John and Rejeanne, although they enjoyed it said I didn’t miss a whole lot.
Tuesday 29th March
Needed propane so I took a dinghy ride to the closest point and then got a ride from Dennis (never found out his last name) who ferried me to the propane place, the supermarket, back to the propane place and back to the dinghy in his golf cart. Saved me a lot of lugging a propane tank for some distance.
Wednesday 30th March
Just pottering around the boat.
Thursday 31st March
Another trip to the clinic with Carol who is still under the weather. But she felt better after seeing the doctor.
We had a pow wow with Bilbo and tomorrow we are heading out and a big long trip to Great Harbour Cay.
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